Electric meter.



D- 79s,o46. PA'IBNTED AUG. 1, 1905.

' T. DUNCAN.

ELECTRIC METER. AIiPLIQATION FILED JULY 1?,1901. RENEWED JAN. 7 1.05-

2 SIISTB-IHBB'I' 1.

METER KILOWA-TT H ouRs MAXIMUM DEMAND6c Suome DISCOUNT an: km in RAT:

D;NE$E$ v T Elms [lg/EN TOR. DMMW 4 No. 796,046 PATENTED AUG. 1, 1905.

. T.DUNGAN.

ELECTRIC METER. v APPLICATION FILED JULY 18,1901, BJNBWED JAN. 7, 1905.I I 2 sums-SHEET z.

TO LAM PS WITNESSES JNVENTOR.

. i 1 Tgumsllflum. di gfiw 3 UNITED STATES THOMAS DUNCAN, or CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC METER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1, 1905.

Application filed July 18 1901 Renewed January 7, 1905. Serial No.239,972.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric Meters, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

My invention relates to electric meters, and has for its objecttheprovision of a meter which may operate at one rate per unit of load orenergy up to a given predeterminedamount, at a reduced rate per unit ofload or energy for a predetermined additional quantity of en ergy, afurther reduced rate for another predetermined additional quantity ofenergy, &c.

By means of my invention I am enabled to provide a meter which isadapted to operate at one rate of operation to measure load or energythat the consumeris to be charged for at a given rate, the meter in itsfurther operation in measuring a given additional quantity of energyoperating at a reduced rate to afford the consumer discount agreed uponand in measuring additional given quantities of energy operating atfurther reduced speeds. Thus the consumer may be given a slidingdiscount. Hemay be charged a normal rate for a given minimum quantity ofenergy, a reduced rate for a given excess quantity of energy, afurther-reduced rate for a further given excess quantity of energy, &c.For this purpose there is provided in the preferred embodiment of theinvention a means for effecting a reduction in the torque of the me terafter it has registered the normal or predetermined minimum quantity ofunits and after each of the predetermined excess number of units, whichmay be in the form of 1 kilowatt-hours, ampere-hours, or the like. To

effect this step-by-step reduction in the rate provided whereby theseenergy-contacts may be selected for connection with the sections of theresistance, so that the meter may operate a predetermined length of timewithout effecting the inclusion of the resistance. in circuit with themeter-winding. A trolleyroller is actuated by the meter to be broughtinto engagement with the said energy-indicating contacts, theenergy-contacts being alined to form trolley contacts, the meter thusserving to bring the trolley gradually into engagement with the contactsconnected with the discount resistance. The adjustable means forconnecting the sections of the resistance with the trolley-contacts ispreferably in the form of a switching device having a contact-blade andcontacts, the contacts being electrically connected with thetrolleycontacts, the contact-blade carrying the terminals of theresistance-sections adapted for engagement with the correspondingcontacts, so that these terminals of the resistance-sections may beelectrically connected with the trolley-contacts, whereby the time thetrolley-roller actuated by the meter is to efiect an inclusion of theresistance and successively the additional sections of the resistance isdetermined. The trolley-contacts preferably correspond each to tenkilowatt-hours. Thus if each meter during each period of operation isadapted to measure a maximum of one hundred kilowatt-hours thetrolley-contacts are ten in number, each corresponding to tenkilowatt-hours, the trolley-contacts being successively arranged inincreasing order of the energy consumption, the trolley-roller actuatedby the meter moving from the trolley-contact corresponding to the lowestquantity of energy toward that corresponding to the highest quantity. Bymeans of the aforesaid adjusting switching device the trolley-roller,actuated by the meter, may travel over a number of trolley-contacts thatmay be disconnected with the resistance, whereby the meter I is causedto operate during the consumption of a given minimum quantity of energywithout affording the consumer any discount. After this predeterminedquantity of energy has been consumed the trolley-roller, actuated by themeter, is brought into connection with the trolley-contact correspondingto a given excess quantity of energy, whereby one section 'of theprediscount resistance may be brought into circuit with themeter-winding to aiford the consumer the first discount. After thispredetermined excess quantity of energy has been consumed thetrolley-roller is brought by the meter into engagement with thetrolley-contact corresponding to the next excess quantity of energy,whereby an additional section of the discount resistance is brought intocircuit with the meter to afford a further reduced speed of the meterper unit of load or energy to secure to the consumer a further discount.Thus as the trolley is moved by the meter from contact to contact of thecontacts electrically connected with the sections of the resistancethese sections of the resistance are gradually and cumulatively includedin circuit with the meter, so that a sliding discount is afforded theconsumer.

I will explain my invention more fully by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a system ofelectrical distribution with a meter constructed in accordance with myinvention associated therewith. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, thereading-dial of the instrument being removed, while a modifiedarrangement of resistance is illustrated.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutboth views.

I have illustrated in both figures a source of current 1, either director alternating, con- Veying current over the mains 2 2 to translatingdevices. A current field-winding, subdivided into coils 3 3, is includedin one of the mains and produces a field proportional to the current. Apressure-winding, in this instance in the form of a commutated armature1, is mounted upon a spindle 5, at the lower end of which is provided adampingdisk 6, arranged within the fields of permanent magnets 7 7. Thespindle 5 supports the commutator 8 in engagement withcommutator-brushes 9 9, which include the armature 4, in bridge of thetransmission-mains, whereby a field is produced proportional to thepressure. There is thus organized the motor element of a wattmeter; butI do not wish to be limited to the precise form of meter illustrated formeasuring loads. The upper end 01. the spindle is provided with a worm10,which engages the wheels of amounting-train 11, that actuate theindexes 12 upon the reading-dial 13. This wheel-train includes a wheel14:, that is preferably distinct from the counting portion of the train,as far as the operation of the indexes is concerned, but is actuated ata suitable rate to include the prediscount resistance in circuit orotherwise modify the rate of operation of the meter at the proper time.This wheel 14 is provided with a pinion 15, coaxially arranged withrespect thereto, this pinion 15 being insulated from the wheel 14 andthe swinging frame 16, hinged at 17. The pinion 15 engages ahorizontally-movable trolley rack-bar 18, upon which are mountedtrolleys 19 and 20, each comprising two electrically-connected rollers,the upper rollers of the trolleys engaging, respectively, elongatedcontact-terminals or trolley-bars 21 22, while the lower trolley-rollersengage the lower sets of trolley-contacts 23 24. These trolleys areinsulated from the bar 18. The trolley-bar 22 is connected with acontact-blade 25. A second contact-blade 26 is mounted upon the samerotating shaft 27 that supports the contactblade 25, the contact-bladesbeing, however, insulated from each other. These contactblades 25 and 26form parts of switching mechanism that also include contacts 28,electrically connected and equal in number to the trolley-contacts 23.By rotation of the blades 25 and 26 more or less of the contacts 28, andconsequently the contacts 23, are brought into connection with thetrolley bar or conductor 22, which trolley-bar at the same time isconnected with one of the mains 2 by the trolley-rollers 19 engaging thetrolley-bar 21, connected with the said main. The trolleycontacts 24 arein electrical connection with the contacts 29 of a preadjustingresistance 30, subdivided into sections and provided with terminalcontacts 31, mounted upon a blade of insulating material 32, secured toa rotating handle 33. The resistance 30 has one terminal connected withthe contact-blade 26 and also with the remaining transmissionmainthrough the pressure winding or armature of the meter, a second andfixed resistance 34 being included in this arn1ature-circuit to reducethe current [lowing through the same. The set of trolley-contacts 23 andthe set of trolley-contacts 2 1 correspond to different quantities ofenergy. For example, the first trolley-contact of each set correspondsto ten kilowatt-hours, the second trolley-contact of each set to twentykilowatthours, thus increasing ten kilowatts successively, the lasttrolley-contact corresponding to one hundred kilowatt-hours, there beingten contacts in each set, each correspomling to ten kilowatt-hours. Thebar 18 causes the trolleys to move togetherthat is, the trolleys arealways in engagement with similar contacts 01 the duplicated sets oftrolley-contacts 23 2 1.

Supposing, for example, the consumer is to receive no discount underfifty kilowatt-hours, the switch-blade 26 is brought into contact withthe five buttons corresponding thereto in electrical connection with thefirst five bu ttons of the series of trolley-contacts 23. in thisadjustment circuit may be traced from one limb of thetransmission-oircnit to the trolley-bar 21, the trolley 19, any one ofthe first five of the contact-trolleys 23 with which the trolley 19happens to be in contact, the blade 26, the armature of the meter, tothe other transmission-main of the system. Beyond this point theconsumer maybe allowed a sliding discount. For example, for consumptionbetween fifty and sixtyhilowatthours the consumer will get a discount often per cent. between sixty and seventy kilowatthours, a discount oftwenty per cent; between seventy and eighty kilowatt-hours, a discountof thirty per cent; between eighty and ninety kilowatt-hours, a discountof forty per cent., and between ninety and one bun dred kilowatt-hours adiscount of fifty per cent. The arrangement for each discount isillustrated in Fig. 2. When, now, the trolleys, as illustrated in Fig.2, are brought into contact with the sixth trolley-contacts of the sets23 24, current no longer can pass to the armature by way of the blade26, but is forced to pass from the blade 25 in connection with the sixthtrolley-contact of the set 23 and the succeeding contacts to thetrolleybar 22, the trolley 20, the sixth contact of the set oftrolley-contacts 24, the sixth button 29, counting from the bottom, thefirst section of the resistance 30, the armature of the meter, thence toa main conductor, completing the armature-circuit. The torque-of themeter is thus reduced ten per cent., according the consumer a discountof ten per cent. When the trolleys 19 and 20 come into connection withthe seventh of the corresponding sets of trolley-contacts, tworesistancesections, causing a reduction in torque of the meter of twentyper cent. per unit of load or energy, are included in circuit with thearmature, and so on throughout the remainder of the operation. In Fig. 1the resistance 80 contains more sections than that illustrated in Fig.2, provided for more gradual sliding discounts. The circuits may betraced in the same manner. Thus it is apparent that a standard meter maybe adapted for a variety of sliding discounts'and that the time thesesliding discounts are to be brought into effect may bechanged inaccordance with individual.

conditions.

- The swinging frame 16 normally rests upon a lower stop 35 to mesh thewheel 14 with the remainder of the wheel-train. At the end of the monthor other stated period when the reading of the meter is taken the frameis elevated to permit the resetting of the trolley rack-bar 18 Withouteffecting the restoration of the counting portion of the wheel-train, asit is desired to integrate the totalized measurements during a number ofperiods. An upper stop 36 is provided for the purpose of limiting theupward movement of the frame, while a rod 37, projecting through thecasing of the instrument, may be employed for moving the frame. Thetrolley rack-bar may be provided with a cord 38 at its left end, passingover a pulley 39, by which the rack-bar may be restored to its initialposition after each reading, a lug 40, carried by the rackbar, byengagement with the lug 41 upon the swinging frame 16 serving to limitthe movement of the rack-bar. This rack-bar may also have connected withits right-hand end a cord 42, passing over a pulley %L3, to which. cordmay be secured a spring M or its equivalent for the purpose of assistingthe counting-train in the operation of the rack-bar, the spring servingto overcome friction between the pinion l5 and the rack-bar 18 and alsoplishing the object of my invention; but I do not wish to be limitedthereto.

It is obvious that many changes may be made from the specific embodimentof my invention herein shown and particularly described, and I do not,therefore, wish to be. limited to the precise embodiment thereof hereinset forth; but,

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecureby Letters Patent- 1. The combination with a meter, of meansgoverned thereby for changing the rate of operation of the meter perunit of load or energy when the meter has measured a predeterminedquantity of energy, and further changing the rate of operation of themeter after it Ihas measured a predetermined amount of energy in excessof the first quantity, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a meter, of means for successively effecting apredetermined number of changes of operation of the meter per unit ofload or energy, and means operated by the meter to efliect theapplication of the aforesaid means when the meter has measuredpredetermined quantities of energy, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a meter, of means for changing the rates ofoperation thereof per unit of load or energy, a circuit including themeans, and a switch operated by the meter after the meter has operatedto measure a predetermined quantity of energy to effect successivelydifferent changes in the circuit relation of the said means to cause themeter to operate successively at different rates of speed for differentadditional predetermined quantities of energy, substantially asdescribed.

L. The combination with a meter, of means i governed thereby forreducing the rate of operation of the meter per unit of load or energywhen the meter hasmeasured a predetermined quantity of energy andfurther reducing the rate of operation of the meter after it hasmeasured a predetermined amount of energy in excess of the firstquantity, substantially as described. I

5. The combination with a-meter, of means for successively effecting apredetermined number of reductions in the rate of operation of themeter'per unit of load or energy, and

meansoperated by the meter to effect the application of the aforesaidmeans when the meter has measured predetermined quantities of energy,substantially as described.

6. The combination with a meter, of means for reducing the rates ofoperation thereof per unit of load or energy, a circuit including themeans, and a switch operated by the meter after the meter has operatedto measure a predetermined quantity of energy to eflect successivelydiiferent changes in the circuit relation of the, said means to causethe meter to operate successively at different rates of speed fordifferent additional predetermined quantities of energy, substantiallyas described.

7-. The combination with a meter, of means for eii'ecting successivechanges of rates of operation of the meter per unit of load or energyfer successive predetermined amounts of energy consumed, and awheel-train operated by the meter to elfect the step-by-step applicationof the said means when the meter has measured a predetermined quantityof energy, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a meter, of means for reducing the rates ofoperation of the meter per unit of load or energy for successivepredetermined amounts of energy consumed, and a wheel-train operated bythe meter to elfect the step-by-step application of the said means whenthe meter has measured a predetermined quantity of energy, substantiallyas described.

9. The combination with a meter, of means for effecting successivechanges in the torque of the meter per unit of load or energy, and meansoperated by the meter after it has measured predetermined quantities ofenergy for effecting the application of the said torquechanging means,Whereafter the meter may operate'at ditferent rates of speed per unit ofload or energy for successive predetermined quantities of energyconsumed, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a meter, of means for eflecting successivereductions in the torque of the meter per unit of load or energy, andmeans operated by the meter after it has measured predeterminedquantities of energy for effecting the application of the saidtorquereducing means, whereafter the meter may operate at differentrates of speed per unit of load or energy for successive predeterminedquantities of energy consumed, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a meter, ofa resistance divided into sectionsfor inclusion in circuit with a meter-winding to reduce the torque ofthe meter, and mechanism operated by the meter for bringing the saidresistance into circuit with the meter-winding step by step, as givenpredetermined quantities of energy are consumed, whereby the meter maybe operated at successively different rates of discount, substantiallyas described.

12. The combination with a meter, of a resistance divided into sectionsfor inclusion in circuit with a meter-winding to reduce the torque ofthe meter, and a switching device operated by the meter for bringing thesaid resistance into circuit with the meter-winding step by step, asgiven predetermined quanti ties of energy are consumed, whereby themeter may be operated at successively dill'erent rates of discount,substantially as described.

13. The combination with a meter, of a resistance divided into sectionsfor inclusion in circuit with a meter-winding to reduce the torque ofthe meter, a switching device, and a wheel-train actuated by the meterand operating the switching device after the meter has successivelymeasured predetermined quantities of energy to include the saidresistance in circuit with the field-winding, section by section, aseach predetermined quanof energy is used, whereby the meter may operateat successively different discounts for difiierent quantities of energyconsumed, counting-indexes operated by a portion of the saidwheel-train, the balance of the wheeltrain serving directly to operatethe said switching device, and means whereby the switch-operatingportion of the wheel-train may be separated from the balance of thewheel-train to reset the switching device without restoring thecounting-indexes to their initial position, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a meter, of a resistance divided into sectionsfor inclusion in circuit to successively reduce the torque of the meter,a switching device, a wheel-train actuated by the meter and operatingthe switching device after the meter has measured a predeterminedquantity of energy to include the said resistance in circuit step bystep as each predetermined quantity of energy is used to cause anoperation of the meter varying per unit of load or energy as thesuccessive quantities of energy are consumed, countingindexes operatedby a portion of the said wheel-train, the balance of the wheel-trainserving directly to operate the said switching device, a rack-barengaging the latter portion of the counting-train and carrying a trolleyconstituting a part of the switching device, the rack-bar being moved bythe wheel-train into connection with the said resistance to include thesame in circuit with said meterwinding, and a swinging frame supportingthe switching device, rack-bar and the said balance of the wheel-train,whereby the counting portion of the wheel-train may be rel tion of themeter per unit of load or energy moved from the switch-actuating portionto permit a resetting of the rack-bar without effecting the restorationof the counting-indexes, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a meter, of a switch part 19 moved by themeter, a plurality of switching-contacts 23 corresponding to variousquantities of energy, a switching device provided with contacts 28 alsocorresponding to different quantities of energy and connected with theaforesaid contacts, electricallyseparate switching-blades 25 and 26,forming.

17. The combination with a meter, of a switch part 19 moved by themeter, a plurality of switching-contacts 23 corresponding to variousquantities of energy, a switching device provided with contacts 28 alsocorresponding to different quantities of energy andconnected with'theaforesaid contacts, electrically-separate switching-blades 25 and 26,forming a part of the said switching mechanism, each adapted to bethrown into engagement with one or more of the contacts 28 or thrown outof engagement therewith. a sectional resistance 30 connected with theblade 26, a switch-blade 32 provided With terminals 31 of the sectionsof the resistance 30, a second set of trolley-contacts 24 in connectionwith a corresponding number of buttons 31, and a trolley 20 inelectrical connection with the blade 25, adapted for successiveengagement with the contacts 24, whereby the said resistance is includedstep by step in circuit with the meter-winding when the trolleys 19 and20 engage the trolley-contacts corresponding to the buttons 28 inengagement with the blade 25, substantially as described.

18. The combination with a meter, of automatic means for changing therate of operawhen the meter has measured apredetermined quantity ofenergy, and further changing the rate of operation of the meter after ithas measured a predetermined amount of energy in excess of the firstquantity, substantially as described.

19. The combination with a meter, of auto matic means for successivelyeffecting a predetermined number of changes of operation I 20. Thecombination with a meter, of automatic means for reducing the rate ofoperation of the meter per unit of load or energy when the meter hasmeasured a predetermined quantity of energy, and further reducing therate of operation of the meter after it has measured a predeterminedamount of energy in excess of the first quantity, substantially asdescribed.

21. The combination with a meter, of automatic means for successivelyeffecting a predetermined number of reductions in the rate of operationof the meter per unit of load or energy when the meter has measuredpredetermined quantities of energy, substantially as described. I

22. The combination with ameter, of means operated by the meter toeffect successive predetermined changes in the rate of operation of themeter per unit of load or energy when the meter has measuredpredetermined quantities of energy, substantially as described.

23. The combination with ameter, of means operated by the meter toeffect successive predetermined reductions in the rate of operation ofthe meter per unit of load or energy when the meter has measuredpredetermined quantities of energy, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3d day of June, A.D. 1901.

THOMAS DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. CRAGG, HARVEY L. HANSON.

